Plovdiv
Bulgaria
Plovdiv is the first Bulgarian city chosen to be European Capital of Culture. In 2019, twenty years after the city was a host of the Month of Culture in 1999, we celebrate the most prestigious cultural initiative of the European Union. 10 years later, in 2024, the legacy of the European Capital of Culture confirmed Plovdiv’s position as an active stage for art and culture on the contemporary European map.
We firmly believe that the similarities between us – whether among the different groups in Plovdiv, or the different cultures in Europe – are more than the features that separate us. And all our differences are the spices in our cultural and social life, which make it so amazing to live… Together.
The programme of Plovdiv European Capital of Culture during the title year and in its legacy years is structured in four thematic platforms – Fuse, Transform, Revive, and Relan – linked to the typical features of our city, its cultural heritage, history, the rhythm of life, and the problems and stereotypes we would like to overcome. The basic meaning and key to understanding the whole programme, the ideas of the different platforms and their inner logic is the motto “Together”. Clear and universal this motto summarizes in one word both the pride and the greatest challenges of our project.
European Capital of Culture is a unique project for Bulgaria that provides new opportunities for the development of the potential of the city new international visibility and a perspective on Bulgarian culture as a whole. The programme of Plovdiv European Capital of Culture 2019 also includes activities and events in the South Central Region of Bulgaria.
The beautiful Italian city of Matera, together with Plovdiv, has been chosen as the twin European Capital of Culture for 2019.
Plovdiv is proud of its ancient heritage and its status as one of the oldest European cities. The identity of the city and its citizens are marked by deep layers of the past. The meeting between different cultures, communities and groups has always been the biggest challenge, as well as the best drive for the city’s development. “Together” is more than a path to a more integrated community, it is our vision for making culture more accessible so that it can make our lives more meaningful, our city more vibrant and attractive.
ECOC
#Together
Plovdiv – European Capital 2019 – Bulgaria
#together we
Share the differences
We search for the crossing points between different social groups, in order to rethink the stereotypes and find out how we can benefit from our differences.
Transform the city
We transform forgotten urban spaces, as well as peoples’ mindsets, in order to make Plovdiv a better place to live in and a more attractive tourist destination.
Create heritage for the future
We turn past into future, also through new technologies, in order to create a bridge between eras, generations and cultural and archaeological layers.
Master the art of living
We include slow food, sport, music, the bohemian lifestyle, in order to learn how to live completely and sustainably, to enjoy art and nature to the fullest.
The Organization
https://plovdiv2019.eu/The Plovdiv 2019 Foundation is the organization that prepared the application of Plovdiv for the title European Capital of Culture 2019, handled the implementation of the project and is currently working actively on the realization of the Legacy programme.
The European Capital of Culture project mobilizes a lot of energy in Plovdiv, shiftes the heavy cultural layers, breaks down the good and the bad, and brings to light the problems and the great cultural contributions.
Its realization as a responsibility and meaning is a turning point not only for the thousands of artists and representatives of the cultural scene who became involved, but also for the social climate in the city as a whole, for the new concept of urban space built through the means of art and the vastly expanded horizon for the understanding of culture.
The project itself realizes as a kind of artistic census, a long and complex process, which reaches in different forms to each of the residents of Plovdiv, including to very remote points in the South Central region of Bulgaria and leaves considerable memories and new experiences for many.
Svetlana Kuyumdzhieva, PhD, Artistic Director, Plovdiv 2019 Foundation
Who represents the city
Gina Kafedzhian was born in 1978 and is a philologist with MAs in Ethnology and Art Management. She has broad experience and vast expertise in the field of cultural tourism, events and project management. Deputy Director Programme and Project Manager for Plovdiv – European Capital of Culture 2019 for more than 6 years (2015 – 2022). From March to June 2022 she was Head of Projects for the BG BE ACTIVE Association. For over 17 years (2001 – 2018) she was the senior manager and board member of the International Puppet Theatre Festival in the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Certified participant in EU peer learning program Culture Heritage in Action. She is co-owner and executive producer of CCD Productions Ltd. Gina works for the Art Academy Plovdiv as an Expert in International Cooperation and Projects. She is a lecturer of an Events Management short course for MA students at Plovdiv University, a part-time project assistant for the artistic collective Metheor and One Dance Festival, speaker, and moderator at conferences, and cultural events.
Chris Baldwin is known widely for Teatro de Creacion (TdC) and citizen-centred dramaturgy – approaches to making large scale performances designed for a place, about that place and made in deep collaboration with the people of that place. He specialises in directing large-scale events for live audiences often created as hybrid performances for television broadcast and streaming. He also runs ‘cultural clinics’ – helping cities or regions develop their cultural programmes for large-scale initiatives such as European or national cultural capital projects.
Chris was Artistic Director for the Opening Weekend for 2023 Eleusis (European Capital of Culture, Greece), was Artistic Director of big events for Kaunas 2022 (European Capital of Culture, Lithuania), was Creative Director of Galway 2020 (European Capital of Culture, Ireland) and previously Curator of Interdisciplinary Performance for Wroclaw 2016 (European Capital of Culture, Poland). He was also Cultural Coordinator for Piran4Istria2025 (Slovenia) and an international expert contributing to the development of the cultural programme bid for Bielsko-Biała ESK 2029 – chosen to be Polish Capital of Culture 2026. He directed two large scale performances as part of the 2012 London Olympics. Full details about his work you can find in the Projects section.
His PhD was awarded by the University of Kent. His articles, books and plays have been published in various languages. He regularly teaches and speaks at universities across Europe.
Chris is also qualified as permaculture designer.
Contact
ccdproductions.eu@gmail.com
